Portable boat shelter



March 29, 1960 C. A. STREICH ETAL PORTABLE BOAT SHELTER Filed Dec. 12, 1957 0/4, QINVEMOR; By fwfl/k shelters such as automobiles.

however, is so constructed as to render it particularly Unite States Pate PORTABLE BOAT SHELTER Charles A. Streich and Russell H. Morey, Oshkosh, Wis.

Application December 12, 1957, Serial No. 702,422

2 Claims. (Cl. 135-1) The present invention relates to a portable boat shelter which is adapted to protect motor boats and other water craft when they are not being used.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a compact shelter, constructed of light weight materials, which can be easily transported to any desired location near a body of water to provide a convenient housing for boats. The invention can be set up on a beach close to the water so that a boat can be manually pulled out of 'the water to a position under the shelter, or tracks may be installed from the shelter into the water and a winchoperated dolly used to move the boat into and out of over conventional canvas covers which are merely stretched over the top of a boat and fastened to the deck.

Such conventional means, in addition to necessitating numerous fastening elements which are permanently 'mounted on the deck and detract from'the beauty and .style of the craft, provide inadequate protection for the hull and lower portions of the boat. In addition, such conventional canvas covers require considerable manual Ieffort in pulling them taut and tediously fastening them l to the deck, which chore is eliminated in an independent shelter. The present invention provides a complete, compact, protective housing, with its unique semi-circular cross-section covering the entire boat.

Light weight protective housings are known to the prior art in connection with devices other than boat The present invention,

suitable for boats. I

Being of a compact nature in order to enhance its portability as aforesaid, and of minimum height in order to detract as little as possible from the surrounding scen- .ery, the lateral swingability of the shelter permits it to be instantly swung to one side to allow a person to pull a boat into or out of itwithout interference from the structure and without stooping or bending over.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it 'may'be utilized throughout the entire year, even in the most intemperate climates, thereby eliminating indoor storage costs. In winter, it is merely necessary to relocate the shelter further up on the shore, beyond the ice zone, and to fasten flaps over the open ends so that the boat will be entirely covered. Securely anchored by means of iron stakes driven into the ground, the shelter provides a completely weather-proof and protective enclosure.

A further specific object of the present invention is to provide a portable boat shelter so constructed that-it is exceedingly durable and long-lasting.

.Another important object of the invention is to provide a boat shelter which is relatively inexpensive, the cost of permanent boat shelters of comparable protective qualities and convenience far exceeding that of the present invention.

Still further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all of the views, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is an end view of the portable boat shelter with end flaps attached thereon and showing, in broken lines, the upwardly tilted position of the shelter, part of an end flap being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the shelter in its tilted position, and without the end flaps;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the shelter;

Fig. 4 is a side view of one of the laterally extending arms employed on one side of the shelter, showing the anchoring stakes and hinge attachment thereon, part being broken away and shown in section; and p Fig. 5 is a top view of the arm illustrated in Fig. 4 without the stakes.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the portable boat shelter comprises a metal framework constructed of spaced, supporting, normally upright bows 10 formed of galvanized metal tubing preferably diameter, and a plurality of longitudinal connecting members 11, also formed of galvanized metal tubing, which members connect with and are supported by said bows 10. It will be noted that four supporting bows 10 and seven connecting members 11 have been utilized in the illustrated form of the invention. This particular number and arrangement of framework members has been found to be very satisfactory as it provides sufiicient strength without making the shelter unduly heavy, but it is not intended that the framework be limited to the specific structural details illustrated.

,A covering 12, preferably of 12-ounce canvas or other light weight water-resistant material, is stretched. over said metal framework to form a hood-like cover.- .The

covering may be suitably secured to the supporting bows 10 and longitudinal members ll to retain it in position on said framework. At the inner end of the framework there may be braces 9. These braces are omitted from the end toward the water so. that the boat can be pulled out of the shelter without going to the bother of swinging the cover open.

The covering 12 is normally left off of the ends. This feature facilitates the ready insertion or withdrawal of a boat. In winter or bad weather, however, canvas may be fastened over the open ends, as at 12 in Fig. l, to provide a completely enclosed housing. To fasten the end covers onto the shelter it is merely necessary to insert the ends of the tubular longitudinal members ll-into and through aligned grommeted holes 17 formed in the end covers 12 and to slip rubber retaining caps 18 ove r the tube ends. 7

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, spaced metalarms 13 preferably in the form of channels are hinged to the bottom of one side of the metal framework and extend laterally outwardly therefrom. Said arms 13 provide ground anchoring means to secure the shelter against strong winds, there being a pair of spaced holes 14 in each of said arms for the reception of stakes 15 and 16, as best appears in Fig. 4.

In the preferred form of the invention the stakes 16 nearer the shelter may be approximately four feet in length, while the stakes 15, which are further removed from said shelter, may be approximately four and onehalf feet long to allow a six inch portion to project above therarms13 when said stakes are driven intothe ground, the purpose ofwhich will be hereinafter explained.

A hinge bracket 19 is pivoted to the inner end of each of the arms 13 on a pivot bolt 20. Said hinge brackets have .upstanding tubes 25 into which lower ends of the intermediate members may be removably slipped as shown in Fig. 4. Thus, the framework can be swung upwardly and laterally outwardly about the axis formed by the pivot bolts 20 to the laterally offset tilted position shownin Fig. 2 and, in broken lines, in Fig. 1.

Theaforementioned vertical projections provided by the upper ends oftheoutermost stakes 15 form a stop to prevent the shelter from being swung or tilted too far so that it is easier to close. A rubber covered metal tube 21, carried. by the upper end of each stake 15, is engaged by one( of the bowed. tubes 10 when the shelter is open as in the dotted lines of Fig. 1. This cushions the shelter and prevents the stake ends from damaging the fabric covering 12 when the shelter is resting upon the stake projections.

As will best appear from Figs. 1 and 3, the shelter is provided with springs 22 which are connected to the tubeslOof the framework opposite the arms 13. The free ends of said springs are provided with conventional snaps 26 and are adapted to releasably engage rings 27 on stakes 23, which stakes may be driven into the ground to secure the shelter in its lowered position and to anchor the same against strong winds or the like. To swing the shelter to its open position, it is merely necessary to unfasten the springs 22 from the stakes 23, and to manually urge the shelter upwardly to the laterally otfset tilted position.

In practice, the compact portable boat shelter comprising the present invention may be easily transported to a desired location and quickly set up to house a boat. The anchoring stakes 15, 16 and 23 may be driven into the ground at the selected spot and the invention will be ready for use. Tilted upwardly and laterally, a user may pull the boat into position without stooping. After the boat is in position, the shelter may be lowered and the springs 22 snapped onto the stakes 23 to secure the shelter in its closed position and to anchor it from storms or high winds. In winter, or in unusually bad weather, the shelter may be moved to a location. sufficiently removed from the ice and the flaps 12 may be fastened over the open ends to form a completely enclosed protective housing. If desired, the boat may be removed from the shelter without tilting as the braces 9 have been omitted from the end near the shore.

In its enclosed condition the shelter is comparable in protective qualities to a permanent boat house although, of course, far less expensive. An advantage of the present invention over permanent structures is the low, unobtrusive outline presented by the shelter into which the boat 30on a dolly 31, rolling on a track 32, may be readily pulled by a winch or the like. Permanent boat houses are generally quite large, and necessarily block from view much of the water and surrounding landscape. The present invention, however, is relatively small and does not materially affect the esthetic qualities of the shore line.

The independent hood-like shelter comprising the pres- 'ent invention is also superior, in many respects, to the simple canvas sheets which are commonly used to cover small boats. Stretched over the deck of the boat to protect the interior from rain or waves, such covers must be manually applied and removed, and are generally secured to the boat by means of uncomely fixtures which disfigure the deck surface. More important, such partial covers do not afford protection for the sides and lower portions of the hull and cannot, therefore, be utilized in winter, or in severe weather.

Having by the foregoing description described one specific embodiment of the present invention in considerable detail, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention thereto, inasmuch as many modifications and variations thereof will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, such modifications as are within the spirit and scope of the following claims are contemplated by the present invention.

What we claim is:

1. In combination, a portable boat shelter comprising an elongated hood shaped to fit over a boat and having long side portions of greater length than the boat, with lower edges adapted to rest on the ground when the hood is down, said hood including longitudinally spaced inverted U-members whose lower ends are adapted to be adjacent the ground when the hood is down, anchoring means adapted to be anchored to the ground adjacent the lower ends of the U-members at a first side of the hood, and hinge means connecting said lower ends to said anchoring means whereby when the opposite lower ends of the inverted U-members are lifted upwardly the hood may be swung inits entirety to a position where it may rest on said first side, and be supported by the adjacent portions of said inverted U-members to thereby permit entry or withdrawal of a boat from either end in a direction parallel to said long side portions of the hood with unrestricted access to both ends of the boat.

2. In combination, a portable boat shelter comprising an elongated hood shaped to fit over a boat and having long side portions of greater length than the boat with lower edges adapted to rest on the ground when the hood is down, said hood including longitudinally spaced inverted U-members whose lower ends are adapted to be adjacent the ground when the hood is down, spaced parallel rails extending from the exterior parallel to said long sides and having a portion positioned to be spanned by said inverted U-members when the hood is down, a dolly movable on said rails, anchoring means adapted to be anchored to the ground adjacent the lower ends of said inverted U-members on a first side of the hood, and hinge means connecting said lower ends to said anchoring means whereby when the opposite lower ends of the inverted U-members are raised the hood may be transversely swung in its entirety to a position where it may rest on said first side on the adjacent portions of said inverted U-members to thereby permit entry or withdrawal of a boat on the dolly from either end in a direction parallel to said long sides with unrestricted access to both ends of the boat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 586,927 Beebe July 20, 1897 2,698,629 Hall Jan. 4, 1955 2,708,346 Smith May 17, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 251,400 Great Britain May 6, 1926 422,683 Germany Dec. 8, 1925 

